Maintaining F-35 Electronic Warfare Dominance

The F-35 Lightning II is the world’s most capable fighter aircraft and a core element of modern defense strategy for the U.S. and allied nations. Its ability to execute missions in highly contested airspace and return home is unprecedented.

Amber Dolan is the Vice President of F-35 Solutions at BAE Systems, where she leads a team of more than 1,900 employees who develop and deliver the mission-critical electronic warfare system for the F-35. We’ve asked her a few questions for deeper perspective.

Tell us about the threat environment. How is electronic warfare evolving?

The threat landscape is constantly evolving. Adversaries are fielding advanced air defense systems, which are increasingly complex and capable. The electromagnetic environment – especially in contested airspace – is becoming dense with signals, and discerning threats from the noise while maintaining stealth is critical for today’s missions.

Advanced EW technology like the F-35’s AN/ASQ-239 system provides critical situational awareness and self-protection that enables the aircraft to enter into threat space, execute missions and survive.

Tell us about the EW system for the F-35.

The EW system is a crucial component of the F-35's effectiveness and one of the most sophisticated EW systems in the world. It provides situational awareness, survivability, and lethality and enables air superiority. It has offensive and defensive capabilities that allow it to identify, monitor, analyze, and respond to threats. It allows the F-35 to penetrate enemy airspace, gather intelligence, and engage well-defended targets with a significantly reduced risk. It’s also proven in combat, with capabilities that enable it to address emerging threats.

BAE Systems designs, develops, tests, integrates, modernizes and sustains the system, and to date has delivered 1,500 units for the F-35 program. Today, we’re developing and testing Block 4 capability and delivering Block 4 production ship sets. The Block 4 version of AN/ASQ-239 is the most advanced EW system ever created for any platform, with state-of-the-art hardware and critical software updates that will keep the F-35 relevant and ready.

How is BAE Systems innovating to ensure the F-35's EW systems maintain a decisive battlefield advantage against evolving threats?

We’re focused on accelerating the delivery of new capabilities to the warfighter for their operational readiness. Increased capacity and automation to scale our manufacturing and sustainment are essential. Bringing modern tools and digital transformation to our hardware and software design, and integration and test, is also crucial to delivering faster.

We’re building a technically superior system that can deliver EW dominance for an evolving battlespace. The system needs to be agile and upgradeable, with a combination of hardware-based discriminators and digital disruption.

We’re also anticipating future threats and investing heavily in research and development in areas like advanced algorithms and machine learning, long-range sensors, broad-spectrum capabilities, and precision – all to enhance our EW system’s ability to identify, characterize, and counter emerging signals.

With 1,500 systems delivered and a long lifecycle expected for the F-35, system sustainment is a critical focus, too – maximizing reliability and maintainability to optimize operational availability.

It’s about speed to the field and enabling warfighter readiness.

How is BAE Systems uniquely qualified to deliver this system to the warfighter?

BAE Systems is a long-standing, trusted partner on the F-35 program with strong relationships with Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office. We also have a long history in electronic warfare – delivering many capable systems over the years. We’ve applied our deep expertise to the F-35’s EW system from the beginning, and we have a team of skilled engineers and specialists who push the boundaries of what’s possible.

At BAE Systems, our culture is our discriminator. I’m surrounded by some of the most talented and knowledgeable people working in defense today, and our customers trust us to deliver on our commitments.

We’re known for designing and delivering innovative, discriminating capabilities to warfighters to meet their urgent needs. And we know how to manufacture and deliver complex systems at scale. We’re focused on high-volume production and have made significant investments in facilities and manufacturing capabilities.

Final Thoughts?

The F-35 is a testament to defense industry innovation. It provides a decisive advantage and will remain a cornerstone of global security. BAE Systems’ goal is to ensure it remains a dominant fighter aircraft for decades to come.

It’s an exciting time to be here. The job is always interesting and challenging, and I get to work with smart people on tough problems that make a difference for our warfighters. We’re all here to support the same mission. To protect those who protect us.